Chances are, you've probably lost track of the number of times you've looked in your closet and thought, "I have nothing to wear!" It's not that you have nothing to wear, of course, it's that you don't want to wear any of the clothes you already have.
The truth is, you probably do have some great pieces in your wardrobe that you've taken out of rotation simply because you're stumped on how to style them. Before you go on a major shopping spree, consider these five tips from celebrity stylist June Ambrose.
June — who styled Jay-Z for his world tour, by the way (no big deal!) — is sharing the wealth and making her fashion tips accessible to us "regular people," as well! She visited a viewer (and friend) named Jennifer, a 47-year-old mom who says she sometimes dresses "like a 7-year-old."
June began by helping Jen do a closet cleanse, assessing what she already has, seeing what needs tailoring and determining what should be donated. (Watch that go down in the video above!)
She then took pieces that Jen already had in her closet and reworked them with only a few basic additional purchases to create some amazing new looks!
Feel free to use June's tips and Jen's photos as inspiration for upping your own style game. Here's what to keep in mind:
1. Tailoring Is Your Friend!
Don't be afraid to show off those curves! To create more shape when it comes to dresses, June suggests tailoring. Tailoring can breathe new life into pieces that don't fit your body right.
Plus, Jen, like many of us, tends to play it safe when picking out tops and dresses.
"You keep buying these difficult silhouettes that make you look like a bubble," June says, "and I think you're super hot and I think you're super curvy and you're not playing it up!"
So, she suggests, rather than tucking a flowy shirt in — which can give you a muffin top — wear high-waisted jeans. She also says to go for a solid, dark denim rather than choosing faded jeans, because light denim can make your thighs look bigger.
And when it comes to dresses, a bag belt can help cinch a dress even more. (Just because something has been tailored doesn't mean you can't add a belt, right?) Plus, it's a hands-free bag… who doesn't love fashion that also serves a purpose?!
See what we mean?
Jen simply bought a new pair of over-the-knee boots (to elongate her legs) to go with a dress she already had.
GET THE LOOK:
DRESS — Zara
BELT BAG — Zara
OVER-THE-KNEE BOOTS — Chinese Laundry
2. Don't Be Scared To Mix & Match Styles
A fancier piece doesn't need to be reserved for the nighttime. Pair a dressy skirt with a colorful sweater and boots for a look that's both fun and chic!
"When it comes to layering, feel free to take things out of context and give it a new voice," June says, "like pairing that rugged boot with that soft, flowy dress."
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3. Take Your Outfit From Day to Night
This outfit is elegant and romantic, but the color-blocking keeps it feeling fun and fresh — so you can wear it to work and out to dinner!
GET THE LOOK:
SKIRT — Vince
SHIRT — Banana Republic
SHOES — Penny Loves Kenny
4. Don't Get *Too* Comfortable In Your Shoes
Wearing flats all the time might be comfortable, but June says your feet can conform to the shape of the shoe over time — so dust off those heels from time to time!
"Every now and then, just put them in a heel," she says. Break them in with a pair of socks to prevent blisters, and spray your foot with deodorant to keep it from rubbing.
Wearing heels also elongates your lines, making your legs appear longer, June points out.
5. Add a Pop of Color
June styled Jen in a simple floral top with dark wash bootcut jeans and added a pop of color with adorable fuchsia pumps! In addition to showing her personality, Jen says the shoes are actually comfortable, thanks to the chunky heel.
GET THE LOOK:
SHIRT — Vince
PANTS — Levi's
SHOES — Bleecker & Bond
"It's hard for people to step outside of their comfort zone naturally," June says, "but as soon as you get that first compliment, that's when everything changes."
